Children with Medical Handicaps (CMH)

What is CMH?
CMH, the program for Children with Medical Handicaps, is a health care program in the Ohio Department of Health. CMH links families of children with special needs to a network of quality providers and helps families obtain payment for the services their child needs.

CMH supports the medical home for children with special health care needs. A medical home is a way to provide high quality health care that is:
  • Family-centered
  • Accessible
  • Continuous
  • Comprehensive
  • Coordinated
  • Compassionate
  • Culturally competent
Most importantly, a medical home is a partnership between the doctor and the child's family. CMH works with doctors and other health care providers to ensure that every child with a special health care need will have a medical home.
What are special health care needs?
Special health care needs may be caused by a condition a child is born with or develops later.

Which children are eligible for CMH?
Those who are:
  • Age 0-21
  • Permanent residents of Ohio
  • Under the care of a CMH-approved doctor (M.D. or D.O.) and who have or may have a chronic medical condition
* Financial eligibility is required for the Treatment Program only.

What conditions are eligible for CMH?
Some of the eligible conditions are:
  • AIDS
  • Cancer
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Chronic lung disease
  • Cleft lip/palate
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Diabetes
  • Hearing loss
  • Hemophilia
  • Juvenile arthritis
  • Metabolic disorders
  • Scoliosis
  • Severe vision disorders
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Spina bifida​
Questions? Please contact:
(330) 343-5555 x190 x124
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How is a child enrolled in the CMH program?
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The child's CMH-approved doctor (M.D. or D.O.) sends a Medical Application Form to CMH. Public health nurses can start the application process by referring families to CMH-approved doctors. The parent or legal guardian (or client, if 18 years of age or older) must sign the release of information and consent on the application form before CMH can act on the application.
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